Bathing accessory



March 13, 1962 L. H. NAUGLE BATHING ACCESSORY Filed March 11, 1960 F/GZZ.

FIG. 4.

INVENTOR Lawrence/i Naug/e ATTORNEYS 3,024,486 Patented Mar. 13, 1962 hhce 3,024,486 BATHING ACiIESSORY Lawrence H. Naugle, Port Trevorton, Pa. Filed Mar. 11, 1960, Ser. N0. 143% 2 Claims. (Cl. -222) My invention relates to an improved bathing accessory and, more particularly, to a sponge-like member which is effectiveiy supported to enable washing of the users back. My invention relates also to a device or adapter for converting a sponge-like member into a unit capable of employment as a bathing device for the back section of the human body.

My invention enables the employment of an elongated structure, namely a sponge-like member which, in nonsupported condition, has poor strength characteristics and may not be efiiciently employed as a back washing unit. Numerous techniques have been submitted to strengthen the sponge-like member for such use but these attempts have involved rather expensive handle devices or have necessitated a complicated manufacturing and laminating technique. My invention enables the user to convert readily accessible elongated sponges into back washers as well as enables the efficient and economical manufacture of the completed unit. The sponge-like member is provided with longitudinally extending holes; the transverse ends of the sponge are provided with open troughs which interconnect the ends of the holes. A handle element is retained within the troughs by means of a flexible nonstretchable means, such as a cord which is threaded through rigid tube means coupled to belts. The cord is adjusted to position the belt ends and associated tubes in the troughs; the cord when tied defines a rectangular pathv It will be readily understood that the cord may be knotted adjustably to conform to various size sponges.

The sponge adapter provides the required tensile stress as well as prevents rupture of the sponge due to excessive strain and twisting. The non-stretchable cord maintains the fullest water absorption capacity of the sponge as it prevents reduction of size through strain.

Other objects and the features of construction of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of my bathing accessory with the cord loosely tied to enable withdrawal of the handle ends from the troughs for clarity, a portion of the sponge being cutaway to show a longitudinal hole;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of the sponge showing a hole with the cord passing therethrough and the handle ends properly positioned in the troughs;

FIGURE 3 is a view of the bathing device in use; and

FIGURE 4 is an end view of the sponge.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 2, it will be seen that my invention includes an elongated sponge-like member in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped having longitudinally extending parallel holes 21 and 22 therethrough positioned near the side edges thereof, sufficiently thick sponge walls 30 being left at the sides for structural integrity. Non-stretchable, flexible means 23 is threaded through the holes 21 and 22 and is further threaded through the .ends of belt-like members 26 and 27. Preferably the belt-like members are made of flexible plastic material having their ends folded over to form inner end loops 31 and 32 and outer end loops 33 and 34 with the material being preferably stitched or connected in some fashion to maintain the integrity of the loops.

Positioned within the inner end loops 31 and 32 of the belt members are tubes 35 and 36 respectively of rigid material, these tubes being of a length such that they may be neatly housed within the troughs 37 and 38 respectively formed in the ends of the sponge-like member 20, the cord 23 passing over the ends of the tubes and inwardly therethrough. The troughs 37 and 38 are open and have transverse end walls 50 and 51 which on abutment with tubes 35 and 36 strengthen the sponge.

The tubes 35 and 36 provide transverse strengthening members for the inner end loops 31 and 32 as well as alignment means for the cord 23 so that tension does not cause the cords to be stressed toward each other with a resulting unwanted distortion of the sponge.

The tubes 35 and 36 are preferably separate elements from the band-like members to facilitate length adjustment if required. The cord can be adjusted in length by knot to conform to the transverse dimensions of the trough to provide a close fit.

As will be seen in FIGURE 2, the tubes and loops on the ends of the belts are pulled into the troughs 37 and 38 by tightening of the cord 23. The belts have hand loops 33 and 34 at their outer ends formed by stitching or otherwise connecting the ends of the material to itself.

In use as a human back bathing device, the device would be held and operated as shown in FIGURE 3. The sponge will be carried by the adapter into suitable washing relationship without subjecting the sponge to dama ing tensile forces or torsion. The transversely spaced cord holes as well as the rigid tubes in the troughs prevent the sponge from being twisted and facilitate utilization of the device.

While the invention has been described in terms of certain embodiments and examples, these are to be considered as illustrative rather than limiting and it is desired to cover all modifications and further embodiments that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A bathing device comprising a sponge member having two holes extending longitudinally therethrough and two open troughs extending transversely thereof and interconnecting the ends of the holes, each of said troughs having end walls at the transverse ends thereof, a flexible belt member extending longitudinally from each of said open troughs, the ends of said belt members at said troughs being in the form of loops, tubes of rigid material positioned in said loops and housed in said troughs, and a non-stretchable cord extending in a closed rectangular path through said holes and said tubes.

2. A bathing device in accordance with claim 1 and wherein said non-stretchable cord is adjustable in length to hold firmly a sponge member of unpredetermined longitudinal length.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,714,687 McKeag May 28, 1929 2,093,110 Meleady et a1. Sept. 14, 1937 2,485,899 McBreen Oct. 25, 1949 2,549,933 Rohlffs Apr. 24, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 3,405 Great Britain Feb. 22, 1892 642,079 Germany Feb. 22, 1937 

